Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1887-12-16
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
A Summary Of Secretary La
mars Annual Report.
The Indians, Pensions and Other
Matters Discussed.

Secretary Lamar, IN MS annual report OF
the Interior Department, says OF the Indians:
The five civilized tribesof the Indian Ter
ritory embrace population OF about 4,O)O,
and the Six Nations of New York number
1862. These being self sustaining, it Is not
necessary for the present purpose to intro
duce any statistics OF their industrial oper-
atoms
There ara also about 49, 800 Indians scat
tered over the public domain and not living
on any reservations under charge of Indian
agents, therefore specific information of
their industrial pursuits Is at hand.
The statistics compile1 from the annual re-
ports OF the various United States Indian
agents TO the Commissioners of Indian AT
fairs represents that of the remaining
173, 900 Indians under their supervision
$1,000 wear citizens clothes wholly; that
16,477 houses are occupied by them; that
$1,000 can speak English with sufficient intel
more than 1050J of their children are
in schools receiving educational and
industrial training, for whom PSI schools
are in operation, and that over 81. 600 families
are engaged in industrial pursuits. They
have cultivated over DIS, 900 acres, built over
$4,000 rods of fencing. produced over 100000
bushels of wheat 10000 bushels of corn,
4O2, 900 bushels CT oats, $4,000 bushels of
barley and rye, 514, 900 bushels of vegetables
and 5000 pounds of butter. Besides
the above they have gathered for use and
sale considerable quantities of wild rice, Der
ries, herbs, furs, fish and snake root, &c.
They have sawed 1,552, 079 feet of lumber,
cut "a, 900 cords of wood, and l02, 600 tons of
hay. They own over 392, 900 horses, 5000
mules, 1900 cattle, 10000 swine and l, 800
900 sheep. Droughts have seriously affected
the yield of their crop the past year.
The results are regarded as falling far short
of guaranteeing an early contamination of
the policy of a complete Indian civilization.
The only alternative perceived for the Indian
race is absolute extinction or a quick en-
trance into the pale, OF American clvlizaf
February s. 1897, is alluded to the most
important measure of legislation ever enacted
in this country affecting Indian affairs, and
is regarded in the report as presenting the
only escape open to these people from the dire
alternative of impending extirpation.
The department has begun the work OF
making allotments under the law, and it
is proceeding quietly and cautiously. The
aim has been to proceed with the work
of allotting lands on those reservations
where the I6dians have made the great
est progress and where their disposition and
general conditions promise success in this
Important movement. Many of the tribes
and bands, as SUCH are not favOrably disposed
to the provisions of the law, but among them
all are ar dppreclable number OF individuals
ready to take their lands in severalty.
They will be allowed to take alotments
and accept the means and lnstrumentalltleS
afforded for their material prosperity
and social elevation. 1t is expected that
their example will encourage and lead others
to do likewise.
Under the head of pensions the report calls
aUUSnUIOH W SuSSeSUIOuS VI tuc
Commissioner of Pensions for additional leg
islation that will tend to the harmonious and
equitable administration of the laws
now governing the granting of pensions,
and will remove many of the inconsistent
cies and incOngruities of existing law and
very many of the present causes of COM
plalnt. The report adds to these suggestions
one to the effect that widows who may re-
marry and who may subsequently become
widows or be divorced without fault upon
their part should have their pensions revived
to them for the period of such second widow
hood.
The appeals to the Secretary of the Interior
of pension claimants dissatisfied with the
Authorizations of the Bureau of Pensions have
increased year by year, and there were pend
ing on the 1st of January, 1887, 1894 The
nominal balance of 606 appeals now pending
before the department is merely technical
and does not express the actual number of APP
peal cases which can be acted upon by the
department at the present time.
In regard to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the Secretary recommends that it be
authorized to report directly to the Presidents
to appoint it's own officers and employees, and
to draw upon the Treasury for the payment
of the salaries of its SubOrdinateS as we'll as
for all expenses incurred in the act.
The report speaks of the condition of
Alaska in its civil relations as anomalous and
! exceptional, and adds: with the same
! advantages of civil government which are
enjoyed by the citizens of other Ter
| ritories, the people of Alaska would soon
! enter upon an era of prosperity which would
| Justify the expectations of its most sangulne
! friends In its present condition the laws
cannot be successfully enforced and admins